Girlfriend For Hire ?

The grand library at Neverland was usually a place of comfort for Anica, a quiet refuge amidst the grandeur of the mansion. But today, as she sat by the large window staring into the vast landscape, the air felt thick with tension. Michael was away on a trip abroad, and without his presence, Neverland felt hollow, almost too quiet.

The sudden sound of the heavy wooden door opening startled her. She turned to see Joseph Jackson walk in, his figure imposing as ever, his expression unreadable. The unsettling feeling in her stomach intensified.

"Mr. Jackson," Anica greeted, her voice betraying her nerves. "I didn't expect you."

Joseph said nothing at first, slowly shutting the door behind him. He took a few steps toward her, his dark eyes locked on hers with a look that made her heart pound in her chest. There was something menacing about his silence.

"I know everything," he finally said, his voice low and cutting.

Anica's breath caught in her throat. Everything. She didn't need to ask what he meant. She knew.

Joseph reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a thick manila envelope, tossing it onto the table between them. It landed with a thud that seemed to echo in the vast room.

"Go ahead," Joe said, his tone cold. "Open it."

With trembling hands, Anica opened the envelope, her worst fears confirmed. Inside were photographs, documents—everything that tied her to that awful past. The auction. Her life before Michael. The very thing she had hoped would stay buried forever was now laid out in front of her.

"I'm not sure what you think you're going to do with this," she whispered, trying to sound calm despite the terror building inside her. "Michael already knows."

Joe scoffed, his lip curling in disgust. "Of course, he knows. But that doesn't change the fact that the rest of the world doesn't. And trust me, once they find out, it won't matter that he's the one who bought you. The scandal will destroy him."

Anica's chest tightened, her mind racing. Michael had always been protective of her, understanding her past without judgment. But Joe was right about one thing: if this went public, it could ruin Michael's career, his legacy. And that thought horrified her.

Joe stepped closer, looming over her. "I may be painted as the villain by people who don't know me, but make no mistake," he said, his voice lowering. "I love my family. I've always done everything I could to protect them. And I'll be damned if I let someone like you destroy everything we've built."

"I'm not trying to hurt him," Anica said, her voice barely audible.

"You don't have to try," Joe shot back. "It'll happen anyway. Once this gets out, the media will tear him apart. You will ruin him, whether you mean to or not."

Anica felt tears sting her eyes. "I love him," she whispered.

Joe's face softened, just for a moment, before hardening again. "That's exactly why you should leave," he said, his tone calculating. "If you love him, you'll walk away now—before it's too late."

Her voice faltered. "But... I can't just leave. Michael will come looking for me."

Joe smirked, pulling out another card from his pocket—a plane ticket, along with documents bearing a different name. "You can leave, and I'll make sure he doesn't find you. New identity, new life. Somewhere far away. He'll never know where you went. I'm offering you a way out."

Anica stared at the documents in disbelief. This was real. Joe was serious. He was giving her an escape, a way to disappear from Michael's life forever. But the thought of leaving Michael, of never seeing him again, tore her apart.